Method of and apparatus for forming sectional cores



L. E. KEEN Jul 1, 1930.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FORMINGSECTIONAL CORE'S 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 7, 1926 July 1, 1930. I L. E. KEE'N METHO OF AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING SECTIONAL cones Filed Jun 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 1, 1930. L. E. KEEN 1,769,141

METHOD AND APRARATUS FOR FORMING SECTIONAL CORES Filed June 7, 1926 s sheets-sheet a R my Patented July p 1, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. g

LOUIS E. KEEN, OF'H MMoNIJ; INDIANA, rissreuonsro 'rnn wannnn MALLEABLE CASTINGS COMPANY, or HAMMOND, INDIANA, A CORPORATIONOF DELAWARE METHODIOF AND APPARATUS FGR FORMING SECTIONAL CORES Application filed June 7, 1926. Serial No. 114,082.

My invention relates generally to a method of and apparatus for making sand cores and, more particularly sectional cores to be used in the casting or molding of metal parts.

' Heretofore, in the making of sectional sand cores, it'has been the general practice to first form the core parts from the desired kind of core sand and then join such core parts to gether by hand to form the complete core ready for the casting ormolding operation.

The joining of the core parts by handis slow and tedious with the result that in many instances the cost of cores formed in this manner is prohibitive. Furthermore, when the core parts are joined together by hand the operation depends entirely upon the eye and skill or the individual workman withthe re suit that the corel'parts are not-always joined together evenly and properlyinated so 'as to minimize the seam formed at thejoined portions with the result that va defectii' e casting is formed which bedistorted or which may have objectionable fins of metal formed thereon. Also, since the resultantcasting in each instance dependsupon the eye and skill of the individual workman, both of which vary in the work of dilferent workmen, or

which, may. vary. in the work of. the same workman, successive castings which are uniform in shape and dim'ensions are not formed" all of which causes great inconvenience, at times, to the manufacturer "or other person using such castingsurthermore, regardless of the care exercised there is constant employingprevious methods. g

One of the objects of my; invention is to eliminate the foregoing objectionable features in thei'ormation" ofsand cores and at, the same time to increase production and to reducethe cost of the wlnanufacture fot the Another object is to provide for the forma danger of fractureof the corea parts when tion'ofcomplete sectional cores by: the use of machinery whereby successive cores may beformed, anda plurahtyof such cores maybe formed simultaneously, which areuniform in shape and dimensions and in which theseams at the oined port ons; are minimized to an formation of fins inithe resultant casting.

A further object is to so weld or join the core parts-together that fracture of the meeting edges ofsuch parts does not take place. urthermore,in thejoining of the core parts by handit is necessary to first form all 1 sity-of subjecting all of the core parts or sec= tions'to aninitial bakingprocess, that is,- in carrying out my 111V811tl011' some of the core Darts or sections at the time "of welding or joiningof the same together, are formed only of so-called green or unbaked sand thereby eliminating the'cost of initial baking of such parts. i

Other and further objects will become ap- I unnoticeable degree thereby eliminating the parent by reference to the following descrip tion and by reference to the attached draw- 1ngswhere1n, r i 1 Figure 1 1s a side elevation of a maol me of hubs for vwheels.

Figure 2 is a top planview of the machine of Figure l showing a plurality of core hali es or sections in placem the core molds or boxes 0 7 u n u i mg or oining together of the same.

Figure 3 is a side elevation showing the such core sections bein 'in condition for weldmachine of Figures '1 and'2 in position" for the joining "together of the core half sections; Figure 41s a side elevation showing the .machine oft-he previous figures in position after the-core sections have been oinedready forseparation of the core box sections.

Figure 5. isanother side elevation showing the I samev machine in position with "the core' box sections separated toll'owing the opera-1 adapted to carry out my invention, such lllitlchine being adapted particularly,

tion, of Figure 4 with thecomple'ted cores 7 contained int-he lower core box section ready for removal'therefrom; r

lee

' therein.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of a completed core.

The machine shown in the drawings is arranged particularly for the formation of a plurality of center core sectional castings formed of two identical half sections with the exception that one half is provided with an opening which permits communication with a pocket formed in the center of the completed core. 7 This core is adapted particularly for the formation of hub castings such as may be used for automobile wheels. AlthoughI have shown my invention applied to the making of this form of core, it is obvious that it may be used to make various other anddi'lferent sectional cores.

In carrying out my invention, I first preferably .form one of the core sectionsfrom the desired kind of core sand and then subject the same to a temporary baking process to harden it sufficiently to prevent breakage with ordinary handling. A large quantity of these semi hardened or baked sections may be made upv at a time to further facilitate rapid formation of complete cores in the manner to be described.

hen it. is desiredto make the complete cores, the semi-baked core sections are placed in a core box section which may contain any desired number of pockets or mold cavities of the identical shape of the core sections-placed The other core sections which is to be welded or joined to the semi-baked. core section is then formed from green sand in a core box section having a number of pockets or core section molds of the proper shape and size, and corresponding in number to the core section molds in the first mentioned core box section. The green sand core sections are shaped by use of theproper tools in the ordinary manner. Upon the completion of this operation, the exposed surfaces of the core sections which are to be joined are covered or partially covered with suitable core paste and the two core box sections carrying the.

' abovedeiscribed core sections are brought together, each core box section being in. a vertical position to form a completecore box. The. core box-sections are brought together in such a mannerthat they finally approach each other in parallel positions and meet in that manner, so as to bring all portions of the meeting surfaces of the core sections together simultaneously. This action positive- [y prevents any crumbling .of' the'meeting core surface and assists in making possible the joining of the core {sections so as to minim-ize and smoothly form the seam resulting from the meeting'core surfaces. As the core box sections are brought togetheras above described the core sections are firmlywelded or joined together.. The core box sections arenext moved as a unit to a position to permitone section thereof to be lowered away from the othersectiointhe'lowered. section at the same time carrying the completed core. The core is then removed from that core box section, the semi-baked portion of the core permitting the core to be readily handled without danger of fracture of the completed 1 core. After this the core may be thoroughly dried and'baked ready for use in the casting operation.

Referring particularly to the drawings the numeral 1 designates the supporting standard of a machine adapted to carry out my invention, this standard having a supporting leg 2 at each side. A shaft'3 is suitably mounted at the top of the standard 1 and is adapted to carry the core box sections 4 and 5 so as to permit them to take a rotary motion.

The core box section 4 is provided with supporting arms 6, one at each side, these arms having one end attached to or preferably formed integral with, the core box section while theother end is mounted on the shaft 8 by the provision of the bearing members 7 whereby the arms 6 and core box section 4 are free to rotate about the shaft 3. The other core box section 5 is also provided with supporting arms 8, one end of each of which is secured to, or preferably formed integral with, that core box section while the other end has a slot formation 9 to permit that portion to straddle the shaft 3. The slot formation 9 not only permits of rotation of the core box section about the shaft 3 but also permits of a reciprocatory motion of the same relative to the shaft 3 for the purpose and in the manner hereinafter set forth.

Mounted at each end of the shaft 3, and

of the latches while the sockets l0 are adapted to engage laterally projecting pins 11 which are carried and proJect from the arms Sof the core section 5. The purposeof this latch and pin arrangement is to lock the core box section 5 in position on the shaft3 to permit it to'be rotated about such shaft during the movement of the core box sections to gether to form the complete core, while with this arrangement the latch. 10 can be disengaged from the pin ll'to permit reciprocation of the core box section 5 relative to the other section 4'asshown in Figure 5. More particularly, with the pins 11, engaged in the slots 10 of the latches 10, the corebox section 5 is held rigidly in position on the shaft 3 in the same manner as if it were carried similarly tothe core box section 4, at the same time permitting the desired rotary motion, while the advantage of the reciprocatory motion described is attained. Y

. As shown particularly in FigureB, the core box sections meet in a vertical position Which is slightly off center vrelative to theshaftg about Which they rotate:- This factor in addition to the length and shape of the supporting arms 6 and 8 causes thefaces of the corebox sections to finally approach each other and meet in parallelism". This'action insures that the sand core parts carried by the core box sections Will meet-at allvpoints simultaneously thereby insuring smoothly WQlClQdYOI formed joints andthe possibility of danger of fractureoftheedges of the meeting core parts is eliminated.

Each core box section contains an equal number of core section inoldsor pockets, each mold or pocket being of theproper size and shape for forming the particular core part esiredJ Movementof the'core box section A to and from its vertical positionis accomplished manually by the use of the handle 12, movement of this section away from. itsver tical position being, cushionedior balanced by the use of thesprings l3, onea'teach side of the machine, which have one end removablysecured tothe respective arm 6 and the other end removably secured to the standard. 1 as shoWnin Figures 1, 3, 4 and This core box sections is supported in its horizontal 1 1 pen position by the extension 14 of I the legs 2. ii mounted upon'the" arm 19 which slid'ably engages thestandardl inthe slotted portion 20 whereby such arm is caused to take and. is limited to a vertical reoiprocatory movement thereby bodily movingthe support member 16 vertically .This reciprocatory; movement maybe limited by the lengthof the slot20 or by any oesiredgladjustable; stopdevice" which may he locatedin or associatedwith suchslot. The support 16 and arm 19' are held normally in tn-einsuppermost positlon by theWeigl-lt 21 which is carriedjat the outer,

eno 'ofa lener22Whichleiier may be pivoted to the standard ll Tlnslever also operatively connected to the 1 9 by; means V of the link 23 whereby, as thelever 22 is swung,

about its'pivot, thearmhl9 and-,fsupportrlti are caused toreoiprocate; This action per- 'ini 's lowering of the corebox-i sectionhl to the 11 shown in "Figure 5 nd, its movement #to the posi on;of;l?iure; l. c, in operation, the corebo cctions sand {5" are moved to the position-shown in Figure 1.

Semi-baked core parts such as the core parts 24, shown in F igure2 for example, are placed in the molds or pockets of that section. The

molds'or pockets inthe other core box section 4 are then filledwwith green sand and prepar-ed, by the use of the proper tools,- to be joined to the core parts in the section 5.- A suitable core paste is then applied to the exposed surfaces of the corepartswhich are to be joined togetheni Upon the completion of this operation, the core box sections are brought together in a vertical position in the manner shown in Fi ure 3, the'core partsof one core box section meeting the corresponding core parts of the other section insuch a "manner that all meetingsurfaces contactjsi- "multaneously and are joined together in i such a Way that the meeting parts are not -I ractured and smoothand even joints are formed. The core/box sections are pressed firmly to position-and the entire-corev box unit is rotated to the position shown in gether in this Figure 4. During the foregoing operations thelatcheszl0 are in engagement with the pins llso that the core box section 5 is maintained in't'he proper rotatableposition relative to thesectioni v i i "Following. the foregoing, the operator moves the handles 10 of upon the coreboxsection 5 may be and is moved vertically downward-away from the section 4. This movement is such, as hereinbefore explainedpthat all parts of the (30111 pleted core which 'isin contact with the section l are separated therefrom simultaneous ly whereby danger :of fracture to the com pleted core is el1m1nated-.; .Tliecore is next removed and placed in thepropernenvironment for baking and fin V r altreatment for use in the casting operations: 7

latches 10 are; againplacedin engagement vv iththe pins 11; 4 The core box section .i-is also moved to. liZSHOlfIDfLl position Figure l) and the machine is ready for another cycle I of operationssimilar to-that just explained.

From the foregoing itwill be readily seen that I have provided a me'thodlof and appa-' ratus for forming sectional cores whereby production is a very, greatly increased and the cost "or" production is reduced; the cores may bef forrnie'd rapidly vvithout dan er of frac ture; the seams characteristic of this form of coreareforme'd smoothly a-nd evenly so as to elnnlnate the pOss lbllltyjOffOIlllZllllOllyOffiIlS a I thelatches 10. to release'such latches from the pins l1 Where After the completed core hasbeen removed uststated, the core box section/5 is swung back to the position of Figured and the and other defects in the casting-formed there.-

with uniformity as to shape and size in su'ce.

cessivelyformed cores or setsoffcores is et- .fectedg coinpletely formed cores may be made partly fromag reen sand; and alliof-the'obe meeting edges, the semi-baked core section serving as a carrier for the green core section.

2. The method of forming sectional sand cores which comprises disposing a semi-baked core section in a core box section, forming a mating green sand core section in an opposing core box section, applying core paste to the exposed surfaces of said core sections,

causing said core box sections without fur- .ther handling of said core sections to approach each other and meet in parallel for mation so as to cause the mated core sections to contact at all points simultaneously, and causing one of said core box sections to move away from the other so as to simultaneously separate all parts of the core formed from the other core box section and to leave the com plete core supported by the-semi-baked part thereof, and removing the complete core from that core box section and baking the same.

. 3.- The method of forming sectional sand cores which comprises disposing a semi-baked core section in acore box section, forming amating green sand core section in an opposing core box section, applying core paste to the exposed surfaces of said core sections, causing saidcore box sections without further handling of said core sections to approach each other and meet in parallel formation in an upright. vertical position so as tocause the mated core sections to contact at all points simultaneously, causing said core box sections to move as a unit to a horizontal position, and dropping the lower. core box section away from the other one in such a manner that the completed core is supported. by its harder portionin said lower core box section and all parts of said core are separated from said upper core'box section simultaneously, and removingthe complete core and baking same. 4. The method offorming sectional sand cores whichcomprises forming a core section from greensa'nd in a mold, applying paste thereto while'it is in the mold, and, without further individual core section treatment and preparation, joining the same .to a mating semi-baked core section to form the completed core, and thereafter baking thesame.

5. The method of forming sectional sand 7. cores which comprises forming a core section from green sand in one core box section, and joining said green core section to a mating semi-baked core section in another core box section without further handling of said green sand section and without removing the same from the core box section where formed, the semi-baked part of the complete core servingto-support the same during final baking to prevent fracture of the green core part.

6. Apparatus for forming sectional sand cores comprising a core box section rotatably mounted on a shaft, another core box section slidably mounted on said shaft, and means for locking said latter core box section in a rotative position on said shaft relative to said first named section, and for unlocking said slidable section to permit sliding movement of the same relative to said other section.

7. Apparatus for forming sectional sand cores comprising a core box section rotatably mounted on a shaft, another core box section slidably mounted on said shaft, and means carried by said shaft adapted to engage said latter core box section for locking the same in a rotative position on said shaft relative to said first named section and for unlocking said slidable section to permit sliding movement of the same relative to said other section.

8( Apparatus for forming sectional cores comprising a core box section rotatably mounted on a shaft, another core box section slidably mounted on said shaft, and a latch rotatably mounted on said shaft and having a socket therein adapted to engage the said latter core box section for locking the same in arotative position on said shaft relative to said first named section and for unlocking said slidable section to permit sliding movement of the same relative to said other section. a x

9. In an apparatus for forming sectional cores: having a pair of core box sections,

arately upon a common axis to a vertical position and as a unit to a horizontal position, and means for breaking the rotative engagement of one of said sections from said shaft, and means for effecting reciprocatory move ment of the disengaged section relative to said other section and shaft.

10. In an apparatus for forming sectional cores having a pair of core box sections, means for rotating each of said sections separately upon a-common axis to a vertical position and as a unitto a horizontal position, and a latch rotatably carried by said shaft and engageable with one of said sections for effecting its rotary movement, and disengageable from said same sectionto permit a reciprocatory movement of the same relative to the other section.

11. Apparatus for forming sectional cores comprising a core box section having aportion thereof rotatably engaging a stationary shaft means forrotating each of said sections sepand movable only in a rotary direction, an-

other core box section mating said first named core box section and having a plurality of supporting arms, slots in each of said arms effecting slidable engagement of the same With said shaft, means carried by said shaft and adapted to be operatively connected to said slotted arms to lock said latter core box section rotatably on said shaft, said means in its unlocked position permitting a slidable movement of said section relative to said shaft to separate the core box sections.

12. An apparatus for forming sectional cores Which comprises a plurality of core box sections, one of said sections having a plurality of arms rotatably engaging a shaft and the other section having a plurality of arms slidably engaging said same shaft, means for locking said latter section in rotative position on said shaft to cause the same to rotate re1ative to said first named section'and for unlocking said slidable section to permit the same to slide over said shaft and to reciprocate relatively to said other core boxsection.

. box section to be moved away from said other a section to remove the completed core there- 13. Apparatus'for forming sectional cores which comprises aplurality of core box sections each having a plurality of mated core section pockets therein, and rotatable to-, Wards each other to a vertical position to oin the coresections together and rotatable together as a single unit to a horizontal position, means for locking one of said core box sections in rotatable position relative to said other core box section, said locking means being disengageable in the horizontal position of said core box unit to permit said locked from. a V

14:- The method of making sand cores from sectional core elements which consists in forming a core element dried and hardened to a predetermined degree, forming a complementary core element of green sand, supporting and uniting said elements together to complete the core, and removing the completed core from the support for further handling, the dried core element operating as a carrier for the Whole core.

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name.

LOUIS E. KEEN. 

